by V.K. Sykes
* * *
Holly trudged wearily up her front walk, worn out by her day of shopping with Maddie. Well, actually it was the conversation about Nate that had worn her out more than anything else. She truly looked forward to the day when he wasn’t the first thing that popped into her head in the morning and the last thing before she fell asleep at night.
And everything else in between, too.
Stepping inside, she dumped her bags on the floor and flipped shut the new deadbolt. She’d already hired a locksmith to replace all the locks in her house with top of the line models. The only thing not crossed off her to-do list of beefed-up security measures was the installation of the alarm system. The company she’d hired to do that had a great reputation, but they were too busy to schedule her installation until the following week. Still, the new locks gave her comfort, and she’d almost convinced herself that she had nothing to worry about, anyway.
Maybe it was even true, since Lance Arnold seemed to have disappeared. Holly hadn’t heard a word from him since she left for Florida. Not since the police had met with him. Perhaps the jerk had finally realized that he was skating on thin ice, and had decided to pull back on the intimidation factor.
Tomorrow would tell the tale, though, since she might be in front of a judge. The hospital’s motion for a court order compelling Tyler’s surgery was on the docket. Arnold had been served, and would have a lawyer in court. The hospital’s lawyer had told her she probably wouldn’t have to testify because he’d filed comprehensive affidavits from Rosen, Morris and her. Holly had been praying really hard for that to be the case. She knew she’d do a credible job on the witness stand, but the thought of facing Arnold in open court sickened her.
She wandered into her living room and gazed out at the stately sycamores that lined her lovely street. She thought back to how warm and secure she’d felt when Nate had been there with her. Her cute house had felt so cozy then. Now the place seemed cold and empty as she rattled around it by herself.
Maybe all the new furniture and the home theater system she’d bought with Maddie would help her feel more relaxed. It would be delivered the next day. The dark chocolate leather sofa and matching love seat would make the living room more inviting and comfortable, for sure.
More comfortable, but still empty in the way that really counted.
Chapter Twenty-Six